Cycle fender with built-in light



April 13, 1954 F. w. SCHWINN CYCLE FENDER WITH BUILT-IN LIGHT 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 5, 1950 Jim r za flfiizzz wgz /r w April 13, 1954 F. w. SCHWINN 2,675,464

CYCLE FENDER WITH BUILT-IN LIGHT Filed Dec. 5, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Apr. 13, 1 954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,675,464 oYoL'E FENDER WITH BUILT-IN LIGHT Frank W. Schwinn, Chicago, Ill.

Application December 5, 1950, Serial No. 199,279

2 Claims. 1

This invention relates to a cycle fender constructed and arranged to provide a housing for a headlight or the like.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a cycle fender constructed of sectional parts which together constitute a unitary ensembl of sturdy construction and neat appearance embodying a closure'for a headlight.

A further object of my invention is to provide a cycle fender construction in which a cycle light assembly is quickly and conveniently installed and removed, such being-of particular importance in the maintenance of the cycle light and re-- placement of th'ecyc'le light batteries.

A still further object of my invention is the provision of a sectional cycle fender construction with a built-in cycle light which "gives the appearance and effect of a one-piece fender unit while another object of my invention is the provision of a sectional cycle fender construction including a cycle fender light housed therein which is suitable for installation on a standard cycle frame.

A further object of my invention is the provision of a sectional cycle fender andfender light combination which is convenient and economical to manufacture considering its unusual sturdiness and its unified appearance and effect.

Other objects andadvantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings in which similar characters of reference indicate similar parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the two sheets of drawings,

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a fender assembly embodying my invention and showing its relationship to a wheel fork of a bicycle frame;

Fig. '2 is an enlarged fragmentaryside sectional view illustrating in detail my bicycle fender assembly with a bicycle light unit housed therein;

Fig. 3 is" a fragmentary side sectional view depicting a portion of my preferred fender structure and its attachment to a wheel fork of a bicycle frame;

Fig. 4- is an end sectional view taken substantially on a line 4-4 of Fig. 2 and showing details .of my preferred fender and light ensemble; and Fig. -5 is an end sectional view taken substan- 2 tially on a line 55 of Fig. 3 and illustrating details and relationships of parts of my fender assembly at the point of its attachment to a wheel fork. of a bicycle frame.

In the preferred embodiment of my invention as illustrated in the drawings, my fender assembly It is adapted to be secured to a wheel fork H of a bicycle frame structure and to extend" circ'umferentially around a portion of a bicycle wheel (not shown) which is supported on the lower portion of the wheel fork II'. The fender assembly I'll provides the protective and shielding function of the conventional bicycle fender or mud guard. In addition to such shielding function, my fender or mudguard assembly H2 provides a housing for a bicycle headlight which, in appearance and effect, is part of a unitary fender construction.

As shown in detail in Fig. 2, the fender as sembly l0 comprises a front fender section 'Ifla including a coverpiece [2 similar in its outside appearance to a standard front bicycle fender or mud guard. The cover piece I2 is secured to the wheel fork II and projects from the wheel fork circumferentially around the bicycle wheel and forwardly from the bicycle frame. Extending beneath the cover fender I2 is an under part l3 adapted to support a bicycle fender light unit l5; the under part 13 being secured to the cover piece l2 and to the wheel fork H. The cover piece [2 and the under part l3 are spaced from each otherand shaped at central portions of their forward ends to define a housing chamber l4 which receives and contains the bicycle fender light unit l5. In its forward portion, cover piece I2 is cut away to provide a headlight lens opening [6.

The cover piece I2 is of an inverted troughlike shape having downwardly depending side walls I! and I3 terminating in inwardly folded marginal portions i9 and 2i. The under fender I3 is formed with a recess 22 extending longitudinally of its mid-portion and with downwardly depending side walls 23 and 24 which, in the assembly, extend from the recess 22 into channels provided by the folded marginal portions l9 and 2| of the cover piece. The under part 13 is secured to the cover piece I2 by crimped engagement of the cover fender margins I 9 and '21 against the side walls 23- and 24 of the under part. This crimped engagement extends along the full length of the assembled cover piece and under part to the position of attachment to the wheel fork II. The recess 22 in the under part is of a configuration to receive and support operating parts of the bicycle fender light unit I5.

The fender light unit I5 which is utilized in the fender construction shown comprises a light unit tray 26 having opposed side portions curved to provide a battery clamp 21; the clamp being adapted to hold conventional flash light battery cells 25 in end-to-end relationship, as shown in dot and dash lines in Figs. 2 and 4. In the portion of the tray 26 adjacent and internally of the fender light opening I6 is a bracket 28 supporting a reflector 29 and a light bulb socket 3|. Also supported by the bracket 28 is a contact spring 32 insulated from the bracket by an insulating washer 33 (Fig. 2). The contact spring 32 is secured to the bracket by a rivet 34 which serves as a contact and is adapted to engage the center terminal of the adjacent battery cell to connect the spring contact 32 with the power source; the rivet 34 being insulated from the bracket 28 by the insulating washer 33. As shown at 36, a small light bulb is engaged in socket 3| and has one terminal which engages contact spring 32.

The end of the tray 26 farthest from the fender light opening I6 is provided with an integrally formed bracket portion 31. Supported on the bracket portion 31 are contact spring 38 and spring clip connector 39. The contact spring 38 and connector 39 are insulated from the bracket portion 31 by insulating washers 4| extending around a connecting rivet 42 which holds the clip connector and. the contact spring on the bracket. The clip connector 39 engages a switch wire 43 which extends to one terminal of a conventional bicycle light switch (not shown), the other terminal of which is grounded to the bicycle frame.

To secure the battery tray 26 in place within the housing chamber I4, a retaining prong 44 is secured to, and extends rearwardly from the bracket portion 31 of the battery clip tray and engages prong receiving member 46 which is attached to the under part I3 of the fender. The forward portion of the tray is secured to the under part I3 by a screw 41 extending through the tray and threaded into the under part.

Fender light opening I6 is closed by a lens 48 which is held in place by a bezel 49. Suitable fastening means such as screws 5| removably secure the bezel 49 to the cover piece I2 of the fender. A protective gasket 52 is interposed between the edges of lens 46 and the cover piece I2 to provide an effective moisture seal.

For servicing or eifecting removal of the light unit I5 relative to the chamber I4, the bezel 49 and lens 48 are removed from light opening I6 after removal of screws 5|. Screw 41 is then removed and the light unit tray 26 is withdrawn from the housing chamber; the switch wire 43 having sufficient slack to permit such withdrawal without being disconnected from the clip connector 39. After desired maintenance or repairs, such as replacement of the light bulb or the batteries, has been effected, the tray 26 is reinserted within the housing chamber I4; the retaining prong 44 being engaged within prong receiving member 46 and screw 41 being placed and tightened. The lens 48 and bezel 49 are then secured in place over light opening I6. The light unit I5 is turned on and oh? by a conventional switch which completes the circuit between the light bulb 36 and the flashlight batteries through the bicycle frame and the fender assembly.

As shown in Fig. 3, the cover piece I2 and the under part I3 are secured together and to the wheel fork II. The wheel fork comprises side arms 54 extending upwardly from both sides of the front wheel axle and affixed to a wheel fork bridge portion 56; the bridge portion having a steering post 51 secured thereto and projecting upwardly therefrom with a collar 56 intermediate the tube and the bridge portion. The cover piece I2 and the under part I3 which are now in contiguous lengthwise relationship extend between the side arms 54 and are removably secured to the bridge portion 56 by fastening means, such as a screw 59.

In the disclosed embodiment of the invention, the cover piece I2 and the under part I3 of the front fender section both terminate at the bridge portion of the wheel fork II. Additional shielding around the circumference of the wheel results from the use of a supplemental fender section IIIb which is joined to front fender section I0a at the wheel fork I I. The supplemental fender section Illb is of the same general shape and size at the wheel fork II as the rear end of the front fender section I0a, and comprises a fender shell 6| having return bent marginal portions 62 and 63 for stiffening the structure. In securing the fender sections la and lb together and to the wheel fork I I, the forward end of the fender shell 6| is nested beneath and inside the rear end portion of under part I3 of the front fender section. Screw 59 extends through the overlapped end portions of the fender sections and into collar 56. The disclosed structure, although sectional, has the appearance and effect of a continuous and unitary fender construction, since the edges and slight offset of the fender section are hidden beneath the bridge portion 56 of the fork. It is to be understood that conventional fender braces may be utilized to provide additional support for the fender sections; such braces extending outwardly from the front wheel axle. This rigid attachment of the fenders I2 and I3 to the wheel fork has the advantage of concealing the presence of double fender joint so that an appearance of a unitary fender construction is provided.

While I have illustrated a preferred embodiment of my invention, many modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, and I do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of all changes within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a bicycle fender structure which provides a housing for a headlight having a lens at one end of the fender, the combination comprising two juxtaposed fender parts adapted to overlie a peripheral portion of a bicycle wheel and provide a shielding cover therefor, each of said parts having a section in the general shape of an inverted U and the sectional shapes and proportions of the parts being so related that with their side marginal portions in adjacent and engaging relationship and their marginal portions at one end adjacent and in engagement the mid-portions thereof define a headlight housing which tapers away from said one end, one of said parts having a lens opening therein at said one end, and said parts being secured together by having marginal portions of one folded around the marginal portions of the other along the opposite sides and across the said one end.

2. In a bicycle fender structure which provides a housing for a headlight as defined in claim 1, the combination being further characterized by a light unit mounted in said headlight housing and having a base strip to which the parts of the light unit are secured, said base strip having a tongue at one end thereof, means Within the housing remote from the lens opening and secured to one of the fender parts for releasably holding the tongue when the light unit is in place within the housing, and means including a removable fastener adjacent to and accessible through the lens opening for securing the other end of the base strip to one of the fender parts, whereby the light unit is readily removable from and replaceable in the housing.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

